Residents oppose cell towers

March 2, 2009|By Patty Pensa Staff Writer

T-Mobile's plans to build two cell phone towers in the Boca Raton area have rattled residents who don't want the soaring structures in their neighborhoods.

The Palm Beach Farms Neighborhood Association is pushing against a cell antenna that would add 10 feet to an already existing Florida Power & Light Co. pole in their neighborhood. The pole would reach 80 feet.

Objections over a 68-foot cell tower disguised as a flagpole from the Boca Greens community west of Boca Raton forced T-Mobile to search for another site. An official said the company is working with the Southwind Lakes Homeowners Association to erect the cell tower in the nearby community.

"A lot of HOAs are hurting," said Deeah Riley, T-Mobile's South Florida zoning manager. "They would be able to use the money in maintaining their property, and we can provide coverage to the community. It's really a win-win situation for everybody."

Both cell towers are needed to improve T-Mobile's coverage in Boca Raton and west of the city, Riley said. But key differences could mean different results for the Palm Beach Farms and Boca Greens communities.

The county Zoning Commission rejected T-Mobile's plans for a cell tower on U.S. 441 near Boca Greens. Because T-Mobile isn't planning to build a brand-new tower in Palm Beach Farms, the proposal does not require City Council approval. City code allows the antenna, as does federal law.

"Nobody wants to live under a cell tower," said Joe Panella, a resident who's leading the effort in Palm Beach Farms.

City and T-Mobile officials say growing the pole from 70 feet to 80 feet would not affect the community. Residents, though, worry about their property values and the possibility of the antenna falling off during a hurricane. Panella wants FPL to "take the high road and suggest [T-Mobile] look somewhere else."

FPL has a contract with T-Mobile to lease the cell phone company space. In a statement, the company said: "It is common practice for communication carriers to use our poles to attach its facilities. It is also a common practice for us to use their poles to attach our equipment."

It is better to have one pole serve two purposes than to build a new cell tower, FPL and T-Mobile officials said. The companies plan to add more landscaping around the substation so the ground equipment is better concealed. Those plans must be submitted to the city's Community Appearance Board before the antenna can be attached.

"I don't think that a residential area is the proper area for a cell tower," said Joe Santiago, a Palm Beach Farms resident and father of two. "The only thing we can do is try and at least be heard that we're not happy with the idea."

Patty Pensa can be reached at ppensa@Sun Sentinel.com or 561-243-6609.